The Business Case for Racial Equity

“The Business Case for Racial Equity” quantifies the cost of racism in the U.S.

The brief was funded through WKKF’s America Healing effort, launched in 2010 to support programs that promote racial healing and address racial inequity. The program works with hundreds of organizations in communities across the country in an effort to build an understanding of how racial injustices of the past create inequities for today’s children. Throughout its more than 80-year history, WKKF has supported communities seeking to create conditions that improve the life outcomes of vulnerable children.In a note introducing the report, Dr. Gail Christopher, WKKF vice president-program strategy said, “The data and comprehensive analysis outlined in [this report] demonstrate how race, class, residential segregation and income levels all work together to hamper access to opportunity. With these proof points in hand, our partners across the country voice their concerns for vulnerable children and families – to find support needed to advance racial healing and racial equity.”

“The Business Case for Racial Equity” lays out the potential benefits to business, government and the economy of addressing racial inequities, pointing out specific areas of opportunity in housing, education, health and crime and justice. The document outlines the history of discriminatory policies across these areas and the disparities they created, going on to estimate the potential benefits of seizing opportunities to promote equality, including an increase of almost $2 trillion in minority purchasing power and millions of job opportunities for college graduates.